The Underwood Comets captured third place in the Region 5 basketball tournament last Thursday in Mandan with a 51-41 over Wilton, bouncing back from a tough semifinal loss Tuesday to eventual region champ Shiloh by the score of 67-32.

The Comets were determined not to let New Salem-Almont turn some little runs at them into an all-out run-away Monday night, as the Comets held off a battling Holstein team 54-46 to advance to the semifinal round of the Region 5 Girls Basketball Tournament at Mandan.

The Underwood Comets will be entering the Region 5 tournament this coming Monday as the number two seed from District 10, not quite what they wanted to be, but they’re going to regionals, and that’s the important thing, noted Comet coach Toni Cottingham.

The Underwood Comets split their last two outings on the hard wood this past week, giving them a good indication of what they need to shore up before the District 10 tournament gets underway this Friday in Washburn.

After starting with a long string of wins this season, the Underwood girls have found themselves on the short end of a 1-2 record this past week, falling to regional rivals Shiloh and Grant County, but taking a big district win over Wilton.